Guide carriage for power-driven hand tools



April 27, 1954 A. c. cslczlvn-:Ny 576,624V

GUIDE` CARRIAGEFOR POWER-DRIVEN HAND TOOLS Filed July 28, 1951 F15 2 H15ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 27, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GUIDE CARRIAGE FORPOWER-DRIVEN HAND TOOLS 9 Claims.

The present invention relates to a tool guide, and pertains moreparticularly to a guide carriage for a power driven hand tool. A

In present day woodworking practice, such as carpentry, cabinet makingand pattern making, many of the older type hand tools such as, forexample, saws, planes and Sanders, have been supplemented, and in somecases almost supplanted by electrically driven counterparts.

For general use these hand held power tools require no accurate guidingbeyond that which a skilled operator is capable of giving, but at timesit is desirable to be able accurately to guide such tool from anestablished edge of a work piece upon which the tool is to be used.

The present invention contemplates the provision of an improved guidecarriage for a power driven hand tool. It is also an object of theinvention to provide a roller supported guide for hand tools whereinsupporting rollers are mounted on portions of an adjustable guideelement.

In accordance with one feature of the invention, there is provided aframe adapted to receive and retain the power tool to be guided, theframe having a supporting roller mounted 'at each end thereof uponshafts which comprise portions of a laterally extending, adjustableguide :element adapted to engage an edge of a work piece for guiding thetool supported in the frame 0 along a path a predetermined distancefrom, and parallel to said edge.

A device embodying the invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a tool guiding device embodying theinvention as it would appear in operative position on a board, theposition of a power driven hand saw when mounted in the device beingshown in broken lines, asis also an alternately adjusted position of aguide Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary exploded perspective View of afront end portion of a frame corner portion, the transverse front framemember being disconnectedY from the side angle member.

Referring to the details of theaccompanying Lli) . drawings,l therectangular frame A has parallel longitudinal side members i0 and il ofangle metal secured in laterally spaced relation by U- shaped front andrear transverse frame members l2 and i3 respectively. The side framemembers l0 and H are mounted with lower flanges i4 thereof extendinginwardly into the frame A. The front portion of each bottom flange lllis severed from the vertical side flange I5 of its angle member (Figs.1, 2 and 5) and is bent first upwardly at right angles at Il (Figs. 2and 5) and then rearwardly at I8 to form a hook-shaped, reversely bentportion i9. This reversely bent portion i9 is adapted to receivetherebeneath, a portion of the tool to be mounted in the frame A, suchas the upwardly bent forward end of a skid plate 20 of a power drivenhand saw B. The side frame members lll and il are spaced apart toreceive the skid plate 2i! therebetween so as to support the skid plateon the bottom flanges I4 of the angle metal side members i0 and Il. Thedistance between the hook-shaped retaining portions i9 and the rearU-shaped end members i3 is such as to receive the skid plate 20 closelytherein.

A pair of supporting rollers 2l and 22 are mounted within end recessesin the frame A provided by the U-shaped end members i2 and i3. Therollers are mounted to rotate freely co-axially of parallel rod portions23 and 24 of a laterally extending guide frame C. The parallel rodportions 23 and 24 of the guide frame C are inserted through alignedpairs of holes 25 in the sides of the recessed front and rear portions,respectively, of the frame A. The rod portions 23 and 24 are connectedtogether by a downwardly and inwardly bent guide shoe portion 2S. Theshoe portion 26 is continuous with the rods 23 and 24, and is disposedat right angles thereto. The guide shoe portion 26 is adapted to ridealong the edge of a work piece, such as a board D, to guide a tool inthe frame A along a path secured to the frame A to provide hollow axlesfor supporting the rollers 2! and 22 when the guide frame C is removedfrom the frame A.

For holding the rod portions 23 and 24 in axially adjusted position, apair of clamp assemblies 28 and 29 are provied at the front and rearends, respectively, of the frame A. Each of these clamp assemblies, as'cest shown in Fig. 3, comprises a plate portion Se xedly secured byrivets Si, 3i to a side of the frame side rnernher lil. An internallythreaded bushing 32 is provided on the cuter end of the plate 36. Theouter end portion or the plate Se is reduced in width at Sila toslightly less than one-half the width of the vertical flange of theangle member lil upon which it is mounted.

A swiveled clamping plate 33 is pivotally mounted, by means of a rivetSri, on the side of the plate it alcove the reduced forward portion Staof the plate 3G. A bushing 35 is welded to the outer end of the plate 3Sto receive the shank of a thumb screw Si' therein. The lower portion ofthe thumb screw shank is threaded, and is screwed into the internallythreaded 'bushing 32. Notches Sii and are provided in the plates Sil andrespectively, to receive the rod portions 23 and therein. Loosening thethumb Ascrew Si frees the rod portion 23 and El?. for

movement to axially adjusted position so as to locate the guide shoe 2ea required distance from the side or the fra-:ne A. Screwing down thethumb screws 3i draws the pivoted plates 33 toward the plates andthereby clamps the rod portions 23 and 2'?, in adjusted position.

In using the device, it is simply necessary to insert the power tool Bin the :trarne A as shown in Fig. 1. This is accomplished by tilting theforward end of the power tool downwardly to introduce the up-curvedforward end of the skid plate Eil or" the power tool beneath thereversely bent forward portions is or" the lower nanges li of the sideframe rnernhers le and i I.

Upon lowering the rear end of the tool to the position shown in Figs. land 2, the upturned forward end of the skid plate Ztl is engaged heneath the reversely leent portions is of the lower flanges it to clampthe tool to the frame.

Thel rollers 2l and 22 are mounted at a height to support the frame A.slightly clear of the work piece so that the guide frame with the toolsupported therein is free to roll along the work piece D. By adjustingthe guide C so that the shoe portion 2@ is at desired distance from theplane of the cutting blade lc of the tool B,

and then securing the guide frameC in such ad- U justed position bytightening the thumb screws 3l', the frame will guide the blade along apath at a predetermined distance from, and parallel to, the edge of thework piece D.

For locking the frame A to the tool B in the event that it should hedesired to make several cuts in succession without removing the tool Bfrom the carriage frame A, a thumb screw 4l (Fig. 4) is screwed into aninwardly and dov/nwardl-y sloping, threaded hole provided axiallythrough a lug t2 welded to a side of the frame member li near its rearend. By screwing the thumb screw e! inwardly and downwardly to have itsinner end hear on the rear end of the skid plate 2Q of the power tool B(Fig. 2) the tool will he rrnly clamped in the :frame A.

While l have illustrated described a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, it will he understood, however, that various changes andmo'diilcations may he made in the details thereof without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the. invention as set forth in the appendedclaims.

Having thus described the inventioitwhat I' pair i claim as new anddesire to protect by Letters Patent is as follows:

l. fin accessory guide carriage for a portable power driven hand toolhaving a rotary cutting element adjustahly mounted on a skid plate, saidcarriage comprising a frame, a marginal seat formed therein to receiveopposite edges of the skid plate therein, said frame having an openingto receive the cutting element of the tool for free rotation with thetool mounted in said seat, means for releasalcly securing the skid platein the seat, support means mounted on said frame tor transverseadjustment on said carriage trarne, a guide on said support meansdisposed to engage an edge ci a work piece upon which said frame ismounted, and a supporting roller rotatably mounted on said support meansin position to provide rolling support for the carriage having a toolportieri mounted thereon.

2. An accessory guide carriage for a portable power driven tool having arotary cutting element adjust'ably mounted on a sind plate, saidcarriage comprising a trarne, a marginal seat formed therein to receiveopposite edges of the skid plate therein, said iframe having an openingo receive the cutting element ci the tool for ree otation with the toolmounted in said seat, neans, for releas ily securing the skid plate inthe scat, a pair of parallel support elements mounted for transverseadjustment on said trarne, means for retaining said support elements inadjusted position, a guide shoe on said support elements disposed toengage an edge of a work piece upon which said trarne is mounted, and aoi carriage supporting rollers rotatably mounted one on each of saidsupport elements, said rollers 1oeing positioned to provide rollingsupport for said carriage with the tool skid plate mounted in said seat.

3. An accessory guide carriage for a portable power driven hand toolhaving a rotary cutting element adjustaol-y mounted on a skid plate,said carriage comprising a traine, a marginal seat formed therein toreceive opposite edges of the skid plate therein, frame having anopening to receive the cutting element of the tool for free rotationwith the tool mounted in said seat, means for releasa'cly securing theskid plate in the seat, support means mounted for transverse adjustmenton said carriage frame, a guide shoe on said support means disposed toengage a side of a work piece upon which said frame is mounted, asupporting roller rotatably mounted on said support means, and a clampfor securing the support means in transversely adjusted position on theframe.

4. An arrangement according to claim 3 wherein the-support meanscomprises a'rod slidahly inserted in aligned holes in opposite sides ofsaid frame, said clamp comprising a first clamp portion mounted on theframe on one side of a hole for said support rod, a second clamp portionpivotally mounted on said frame on a diametrically opposite side of saidhole from said irst clamp portion, and means mounted to draw thepivotally mounted second elarnp portion toward the rst clamp portion. togrip the rod in adjusted position therebetween.

5. A guide carriage for a power driven hand tool, said carriagecomprising a rectangular` frame having spaced apart side portions andspaced Vapart iront and rear portions arranged to enclose an opening toreceive a tool element therein, recessed means in said carriage frameforreceivling a marginal edge portion `oi"l the tool element, a rodportion mounted transversely of said carriage frame endwise beyond thetool receiving opening therein, a roller journaled in carriagesupporting position on said transversely extending rod portion, meansfor axially adjusting the rod portion in said roller and in saidcarriage frame, and a guide portion on said rod portion for adjustmenttherewith, said guide portion being positioned for guiding engagementwith a side of a work piece upon which said carriage frame is adapted tobe mounted for rolling support by said roller.

6. A guiding device for a power driven hand tool having a skid platewith up-turned forward portion, said device comprising a carriage framehaving an opening therein formed to receive and to support a skid plateof a power tool therein, means for receiving the up-turned forward endof the skid plate of a power driven hand tool inserted in said frame toretain said skid plate against displacement, a guide member mountedtransversely of and extending laterally from said frame, a rollerjournaled in frame supporting position on a transversely disposedportion of said guide member within said frame, means for adjusting saidguide member transversely of said frame, and an element on said guidemember disposed laterally beyond said frame in adjusted position toengage a marginal edge of a worl: piece when said frame is supported onsuch worn piece by said roller.

7. An accessory guide carriage for a portable power driven hand toolhaving a rotary cutting element adjustably mounted on a skid plate, saidcarriage comprising a frame, a marginal seat formed therein to receiveopposite edges of the skid plate therein, said frame having an openingto receive the cutting element of the tool for iree rotation with thetool mounted in said seat, means for releasably Securing the skid platein the seat, a guide member mounted to extend laterally from said frame,a roller journaled in frame supporting position on said guide member,means for adjusting said guide member transversely of said frame, and aguide shoe mounted on a laterally extending portion of said guide memberand positioned to engage a marginal edge of a work piece when said frameis supported thereon by said roller.

8. A guide for a, power driven hand tool comprising a frame, said framecomprising a pair of parallel side members of right angle crosssectional shape mounted with a flange of each thereof disposed on thelower side and facing inwardly, an end portion of one of said lowerflanges being bent reversely upon itself, to form a tool retainingrecess, end members connecting said side members to form a toolreceiving enclosure, a pair of rods adapted to be mounted transverselyof the front and rear ends respectively of said frame; a pair of rollersmounted for rotation one on each of said transversely extending rodportions between said frame side members, said rollers extending belowsaid frame to provide rolling support therefor, and a laterallyadjustable guide portion mounted on said rod portions laterally beyondsaid frame, said guide portion extending below the level of the bottomsof said rollers to engage a marginal edge of a work piece upon whichsaid frame is supported to guide a tool in said frame along a pathdisposed a predetermined distance from said marginal edge.

9. A guide carriage for a power driven hand tool; said carriagecomprising a frame adapted to mount a power tool thereon, a pair of openend hollow axles mounted to extend transversely of said frame endwisebeyond a tool mounted thereon, a roller rotatably mounted on each axleto provide rolling support for said carriage with a power tool mountedthereon, a guide support rod telescopically inserted in the bore of eachhollow axle to extend laterally beyond said frame, means for axiallyadjusting said rod portions in said hollow axles, means for clampingsaid rods in axially adjusted position in said axles, and a guideportion mounted on said rod portions for adjustment therewith, saidguide portion extending below said carriage frame in position to engagea marginal edge of a work piece upon which said carriage frame isadapted to be mounted for rolling support by said rollers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date Re. 17,087 Billingsley Sept. 25, 1928 1,206,461 Nickelson Nov.28, 1916 1,377,961 Drabenstott May 10, 1921 1,706,115 Hannah Mar. 19,1929 1,885,087 De Witt Oct. 25, 1932 2,519,526 Wilber Aug. 22, 19502,589,554 Killian Mar. 18, 1952

